Which one to choose between 2004 with 60k? and 2005 120k
12-01-17, 02:01 PM
#46
Thanks. Very nice. Good model choice. Suggest, at some point, upgrade the stereo and include state of the art Nav. My 1st 430 was a Base. Ran great from day one. I like my 04 ML but many repairs. ML door speakers are the next project. Just missed a Craigs List 05 Premium (69k miles) that sold same day for 10k. These are still popular cars!
12-01-17, 02:24 PM
#47
Lexus Champion
I never buy brand new vehicle, but always 2-3 year old CPO. one. I just picked up a 2014 Audi SQ5, Prestige plus trim with a set of 19" OEM rims and winter tires free of charge. Summer rim is 21" with brand new tires.Odometer reading is at not even 20K miles with full record of service from a dealer who sold and serviced the vehicle.
Last edited by Htony; 12-01-17 at 03:47 PM.
12-01-17, 03:04 PM
#48
Congrats on the car. Nice color. Is it me or the pic but does the back look as if it is sitting up higher than the front? May just be the angle the pic was taken. Regardless you have a great looking car with terrific miles. Enjoy. If it were me, forget the timing belt. Our timing belts are quite rebust. There are stories on this forum of owners driving with 160,000 miles+ on original belts. Most have told stories of after replacement the belts still looked hardly worn or almost new. Your choice and of course the famous saying "peace of mind".
Last edited by Bocatrip; 12-01-17 at 03:07 PM.
12-01-17, 05:17 PM
#49
Those headlights look so clear, wow! Make sure you hit them with some sealant to keep 'em going like that.
Great looking car!
Great looking car!
12-01-17, 10:30 PM
#51
12-02-17, 01:33 PM
#53
Rookie
Thread Starter
That is a good idea from a maintenance perspective.. Sure I will be happy to. I was lucky to get. When I saw this first time I took a look at the headlight and it was very clear and I assume it would have kept it in the garage most of the time.
12-02-17, 01:39 PM
#54
Rookie
Thread Starter
Congrats on the car. Nice color. Is it me or the pic but does the back look as if it is sitting up higher than the front? May just be the angle the pic was taken. Regardless you have a great looking car with terrific miles. Enjoy. If it were me, forget the timing belt. Our timing belts are quite rebust. There are stories on this forum of owners driving with 160,000 miles+ on original belts. Most have told stories of after replacement the belts still looked hardly worn or almost new. Your choice and of course the famous saying "peace of mind".
04-26-18, 10:15 AM
#55
In Waze it is not super sharp, but still a great deal more detailed than the factory nav. CarPlay seems to have a bit higher resolution and is a bit clearer, however, it is still a 12 year old screen and will not stand up next to something from the last few years, but resolution of the screen while using the vline was never a complaint of mine. I don't use it for youtube or any video apps tho, just waze and carplay mostly.
So a GROM Vline is an option. I understand you have your GROM Vline installed in a 2005 LS430. This is the car I have so I figure you can give me the best idea how it would work for me. GROM told me that they do not plan to make the VL2 for the Gen 4 Nav units, so I guess the slower original one will be the only option. Do you mind answering a few questions?
Have you ever gotten the online Google maps to work?
How long does your unit take to boot up and how many apps do you have installed?
Can you set it up so it defaults to CarPlay or do you manually have to navigate to it after booting up?
If manual, How many steps (button pushes) does it take to get to CarPlay other than plugging in your iPhone?
Thanks, Mark
04-26-18, 11:05 AM
#56
Instructor
If you end up selling your LS430, lets us have first dibs. Just post that you're considering selling it.
I've been contemplating going to the LS460 but I'm probably going to wait another year when my middle son starts to drive and I'll pass him my LS430. I'm still torn though because the 430 is still a really good car and I've see mixed reviews from those that go from the 430 to the 460. Some have said it's a great upgrade and others didn't last long and went back to the 430. I hope I wouldn't regret going to the 460.
As for the NAV in your 430, I'm assuming you must not have the ML stereo since you're asking about the GROM VLine. Either way, ML or not, I would tell you to just get the GROM USB with a good phone mount and holder. Then just use your phone for everything. That's what I do but I also have an LG V20 which has fairly big screen for a phone. I run Pandora and Waze pretty much daily. If I were to go to a LS460 I would probably still do the same.
If your LS430 is a non-ML system and you just have to have a NAV on the stereo then I would just go with a complete aftermarket stereo. I was looking around at some stereos for my son's GS the other day and for less than $250 he can get a nice JVC or Pioneer touch screen with a backup camera. That price includes a license plate frame to hold the camera and an install kit as well. The stereo links up with iPhone or Android so you can just run maps off your phone but have them displayed in your stereo.
I've been contemplating going to the LS460 but I'm probably going to wait another year when my middle son starts to drive and I'll pass him my LS430. I'm still torn though because the 430 is still a really good car and I've see mixed reviews from those that go from the 430 to the 460. Some have said it's a great upgrade and others didn't last long and went back to the 430. I hope I wouldn't regret going to the 460.
As for the NAV in your 430, I'm assuming you must not have the ML stereo since you're asking about the GROM VLine. Either way, ML or not, I would tell you to just get the GROM USB with a good phone mount and holder. Then just use your phone for everything. That's what I do but I also have an LG V20 which has fairly big screen for a phone. I run Pandora and Waze pretty much daily. If I were to go to a LS460 I would probably still do the same.
If your LS430 is a non-ML system and you just have to have a NAV on the stereo then I would just go with a complete aftermarket stereo. I was looking around at some stereos for my son's GS the other day and for less than $250 he can get a nice JVC or Pioneer touch screen with a backup camera. That price includes a license plate frame to hold the camera and an install kit as well. The stereo links up with iPhone or Android so you can just run maps off your phone but have them displayed in your stereo.
04-26-18, 12:56 PM
#57
If you end up selling your LS430, lets us have first dibs. Just post that you're considering selling it...
I am on my 3rd Vaistech unit installed on my 4th Lexus. On this '05LS, which has Nav & ML sound this provides up to date Bluetooth. I do use my iPhone X for maps as well, but I would much prefer to use the built in Nav screen if at all possible. I know the screen is lower resolution versus our phones, but it would be much nicer IMO to have the built in Nav updated with real-time content. I am not aware of any aftermarket unit that can replace the Nav without adding a second screen much lower on the console, so the GROM appears to be my best option if it doesn't take too long to boot or 15 clicks to enable once up. My recent addition is a self-grabbing phone holder that is also a Qi wireless charger. This maybe this is a good as it gets, but I am always on the lookout for a more stock looking solution.
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